Wide-range dual-backlight display apparatus

• US 5,886,681 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Walsh, Kevin L., Vitello, Robert J., Kelleher, Kevin C., Merrifield, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US08/663,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345/87, 345/211, 362/31, 362/23, 362/26, 362/29
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133607 the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/58 Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/066 Waveforms comprising a gently increasing or decreasing portion, e.g. ramp
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

A backlight display system having a display screen illuminated directly by high intensity daylight lamps and illuminated indirectly by lower intensity nightlight lamps positioned to reflect their light off the daylight lamps and onto the display screen. The backlight display system includes intensity gradient filters and/or distribution lenses to enhance the uniformity of reflected nightlight, a brightness enhancement filter/diffuser disposed before the display screen, and optical filtering positioned between the illumination sources and the display screen. Photosensor controlled intensity feedback is used to provide smooth continuous dimming transition from a wide range of maximum to minimum intensity. The system also provides a third monochromatic nightlight lamp array for "class A" Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) compatibility and an override switch to assure that lighting restrictions needed for night-vision are maintained. The system thus provides illumination of the display screen for operating during daytime conditions, nighttime conditions, nighttime conditions of Class A NVIS device use, and nighttime conditions of Class B NVIS device use.

Claims

1. A wide intensity range dual illumination system for backlight displays comprising:

a backlight display screen;

a daylight fluorescent lamp means for directly illuminating said display screen with high intensity daylight illumination;

first photosensor means proximate to said daylight fluorescent lamp means for providing an electrical signal representative of the intensity of said daylight illumination;

at least one nightlight lamp means positioned between said daylight fluorescent lamp means and said display screen for directing low intensity nightlight illumination onto said daylight fluorescent lamp means wherein said low intensity nightlight illumination is reflected from said daylight fluorescent lamp means and onto said display screen;

a second photosensor means proximate to said nightlight lamp means for providing an electrical signal representative of the intensity of said nightlight illumination;

and control means connected to said daylight fluorescent lamp means, said nightlight fluorescent lamp means, said first and second photosensor means and to a brightness command signal, wherein said control means provides signals to said daylight fluorescent lamp means and said nightlight lamp means for providing a smooth transition from said high intensity daylight illumination to said low intensity nightlight illumination for continuous dimming of said illumination on said display screen from maximum to minimum intensity.

2. A dual illumination system according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes an intensity control means connected to said brightness command signal, a daylight lamp driver means connected to said intensity control means and said daylight fluorescent lamp means to provide a signal to said daylight fluorescent lamp means in response to a daylight intensity signal S_D from said intensity control means for controlling the intensity level of said daylight illumination from said daylight fluorescent lamp means,

and a nightlight lamp driver means connected to said intensity control means and said nightlight lamp means to provide a signal to said nightlight lamp means in response to a nightlight intensity control signal S_N from said intensity control means for controlling the intensity level of said nightlight illumination from said nightlight lamp means.

3. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 wherein said nightlight lamp means includes a plurality of separate nightlamps and wherein said second photosensor means includes a plurality of separate photosensor devices each proximate to a separate nightlamp.

4. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 wherein said nightlight lamp means is a fluorescent lamp means.

5. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 wherein said nightlight lamp is an incandescent lamp, electroluminescent lamp, or other light-producing means.

6. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 further including a select switch means connected to said daylight lamp driver means and said nightlight lamp driver means for selectively actuating said daylight and nightlight driver means.

7. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 further including a Night Vision Imaging System lamp means positioned between said daylight fluorescent lamp means and said display screen for directing class B night vision imaging system compatible illumination onto said daylight fluorescent lamp means:

and a third photosensor means proximate to said NVIS lamp means for providing an electrical signal representatively of the intensity of the intensity of said NVIS lamp means illumination;

and wherein said control means is further connected to said NVIS lamp means and said third photosensor means.

8. A dual illumination system according to claim 7 further including an NVIS lamp driver means connected to said intensity control means and said NVIS lamp means;

and a select switch means connected to said daylight lamp driver means, said nightlight lamp driver means and said NVIS lamp driver means for selectively actuating said daylight, nightlight and NVIS driver means.

9. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 further including light distributing means located between said nightlight lamp means and said daylight fluorescent lamp means for modifying said light from said nightlight lamp means to said daylight fluorescent lamp means so that the light reflected to said display screen is evenly distributed.

10. A dual illumination system according to claim 2 further including a brightness-enhancement means placed proximate to said at least one nightlight lamp means so that light from said nightlight lamp means is directed through the brightness-enhancement means to said display element.

11. A dual illumination system according to claim 9, wherein said light distributing means is an intensity-gradient filter.

12. A dual illumination system according to claim 9, wherein said light distributing means is a light-distribution lens.

13. A dual illumination system according to claim 7 further including an optical filtering means placed proximate to said nightlight lamp means and said display screen so that light from said daylight and night light lamp means is directed through said filtering means to said display screen to remove unwanted radiation from the nightlight lamp means for the purpose of compatibility with Night Vision Imaging System Classes A and/or B lamps for color correction of said illumination, for protection of the said display screen against unwanted radiation initially emitted from said daylight and nightlight lamp means, or for other modification of said illumination.

14. A dual illumination system according to claim 13 further including a second nightlight lamp means proximate to said at least one nightlight lamp means and a third photosensor means proximate to said second nightlight lamp means for providing illumination means for use of said display screen during daytime operation, nighttime operation, nighttime operation with Class B NVIS devices, and night- time operation with Class A NVIS devices.

15. A dual illumination system according to claim 14 wherein said second nightlight lamp means includes a plurality of separate nightlamps and wherein said third photosensor means includes a plurality of separate photosensor devices each proximate to a separate nightlamp of said second nightlight lamp means.